UC Santa Barbara

Modern states represent themselves with a set of official state symbols, designed to signify the values inherent to their political system. Citizens of those states typically learn the meanings of those symbols in childhood.  With this knowledge, most citizens are trained to read at least the basic symbolism for their countries.  Therefore, state symbols can be seen as coded messages from the state to its people.  An excellent example of this messaging system can be found in the state symbols of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.  Not only were the official state symbols imbued with the values of Marxism-Leninism, but individual elements of those symbols were widely used throughout the country to remind the people of the goal of Soviet society – the attainment of communism.  This paper will examine the Soviet state emblem and the state flag of the USSR to reveal the messages conveyed by the design elements of each.  In doing so, it will demonstrate how the Soviet state used state symbols as messengers of societal values.